The Struggle for Life in the Swamp. 239 
hummocks and tangle of vegetation. It is true that 
hardly anyone cares to attempt such a feat, but the 
sportsman, ornithologist, and the botanist will do this 
if occasion requires. A wounded bird, or a doubtful 
plant perched under the canopy of an eta palm, some- 
times induces efforts to penetrate, but rarely with the 
desired result. If the water is two or three feet deep, the 
bateau is brought as near as the hummocks will allow, 
and taking a paddle to steady himself in walking, the 
enthusiastic collector steps overboard. If a new-comer 
he may perhaps undress, but the more experienced 
sportsman knows better than to expose his naked skin 
to the sharp leaves through which he has to push his 
way. 
Those who have never tried walking under such con- 
ditions can hardly conceive its difficulty. Under foot 
is a slippery ooze which occupies the bottom of the 
swamp but only level for a foot or two between the 
hummocks. Now in deep water, and a little later almost 
up to the surface, he stumbles along, sometimes falling 
against a clump of razor grass and then slipping and 
going down almost flat in the mud and ooze. If the dis- 
tance is short and the obje6l can be seen from the bateau, 
he may succeed in reaching it but if on the contrary it 
is a case of wandering round in search of a bird, success 
is almost impossible, and the ardent sportsman comes 
back in a most draggled condition, thoroughly exhausted,, 
and bleeding from gashes in the hands and scratches on 
the face made by the horrible razor grass. 
In places that are comparatively dry the jungle is so 
dense as to be almost impenetrable. Here it is possible 
to walk after a fashion by bearing down everything in 
GG2 
